Apparatus for dispensing washers



Sept. 20, 1966 G. P. ADAMS 3,273,230

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING WASHERS Filed Aug. 50, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR G. R ADAMS ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1966 G. P. ADAMS 3,273,230

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING WASHERS Filed Aug. 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GZ G. P. ADAMS APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING WASHERS Sept. 20, 1966 Filed Aug. 50, 1965 n u I, 5% A.

4 Sheets-Sheet, 5

ww SQ G. P. ADAMS 3,273,230

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING WASHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 20, 1966 Filed. Aug. 30, 1963 2 9 I Q m 55 \3 2a 53 I w M I A '1 $1 M J N7 2? FIG. 6

United States Patent 3,273,230 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING WASHERS George P. Adams, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,738 12 Claims. (Cl. 29-211) This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing washers and more particularly to apparatus for selectively placing a predetermined number of washers on a stud or terminal of a workpiece.

In the manufacture of various electrical articles, such as lightning arrestors or protectors, it is necessary to place washers on terminals or studs of the article or workpiece prior to placing nuts on the terminals and staking the terminals. Previously, washers were placed on the terminals by hand, resulting in higher labor cost. Further, where it is necessary to place a different number of washers on different terminals, it is a slow and tedious process to count out by hand the correct number of washers and place them on the correct terminal. Due to the subsequent staking of the terminals, it is difficult to correct an improperly assembled workpiece, which results in further inefficiency.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide facilities for dispensing a predetermined number of washers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide facilities for automatically placing washers on terminals or studs.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide facilities for automatically placing a predetermined number of washers on terminals or studs of a workpiece in response to the position of the terminal or stud in the workpiece.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates the use of an apertured slide for normally supporting a generally vertical stack of washers and facilities associated with the slide for supporting the vertical stack of washers when an aperture in the slide is brought into alignment with the vertical stack of washers while permitting a predetermined number of washers to fall from the vertical stack through the apertured slide.

A clear understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an assembly apparatus embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along lines 4-4 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 4 except that the apparatus is shown in a different operational position, and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control circuit of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 10, in an assembly station for automatically and selectively placing predetermined numbers of washers 32--32 on terminals 13 and 14 of a workpiece designated generally by the numeral 12. In this illustration the workpiece 12 is a lightning arrestor 3,273,230 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 ice for telephone lines. A turntable 11 carries a plurality of workpieces 1212. As the turntable 11 is indexed, the terminals 13 and 14 are each, in turn, brought into position in the assembly station 10.

The workpiece 12 may be advantageously retained on the turntable 11by a clipping arrangement such as clip 15. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, clip 15 sits on a bifurcated plate 16. The workpiece 12 has an aperture 17 therein which extends through a generally cylindrical portion 18 (FIG. 2). The generally cylindrical portion 18 mates between the bifurcated portion of plate 16.

The clip 15 is provided with a snap 19 which slides axially in an aperture 20 of clip 15 and is spring biased towards the workpiece 12 by a leaf spring 21 (FIG. 2). As the generally cylindrical port-ion 18 of the workpiece 12 is inserted between the bifurcated portion of plate 16, the snap 19 is urged into aperture 17 by the leaf spring 21 to lock the workpiece 12 into position on the turntable 11.

Terminals 13 and 14 are spaced equal distances apart in the workpiece 12 and the clips 1515 are positioned to maintain the same spacing between the end terminals 14--14 of adjacent workpieces. Thus, by indexing the turntable 11 a distance equal to the spacing between the terminals 13 and 14, one of the terminals 13 or 14 will 'be properly positioned relative to the assembly station 10 each time the turntable 11 is indexed.

Any conventional indexing turntable may be used. The turntable 11 can be mounted and keyed for rotation on a shaft (not shown) and the shaft provided with a rachet (not shown). A conventional, sequentially air-actuated piston (not shown) may be provided with a pawl (not shown) which actuates the rachet each time the piston is advanced. By varying the rate at which the piston is reciprocated, the dwell of the indexing turntable 11 can be adjusted as desired, as will be obvious to one skilled in the art. Further, the distance which the workpiece 12 will be displaced each time the turntable 11 is indexed is determined by the distance of the workpiece from the axis of rotation of the turntable and by the number of teeth and size of the rachet.

In FIG. 2 a center terminal 13 is shown positioned in the assembly station 10. After the turntable 11 has been indexed to position one of the terminals 13 or 14 in the assembly station, a solenoid 25 is deenergized to permit a guide 26 to advance against the terminal 13 or 14 so as to insure the accurate positioning of the terminal in the assembly station 10. The guide 26 is provided with a V-slot, FIG. 4, and, therefore, locks the terminal in the assembly station.

The guide 26 is urged against the terminal 13 or 14 by spring 27. Pivot arms 28-28 are pivotally attached to a plunger 29 of the solenoid 25, and the arms are pivoted at pivot point 30. The pivot arms 2828 are also pivotally connected to guide 26. Thus, as the solenoid 25 is energized to extend the plunger 29, the pivot arm 28 is pivoted about pivot point 30 in a counterclockwise direction -(FIG. 2) to retract the guide 26 against the urgings of the spring 27. This frees the terminal 13 or 14 and permits the turntable 11 to be indexed to advance the next terminal 13 or 14 into the assembly station. When the solenoid 25 is deenergized, the spring 27 advances the guide 26 against the terminal 13 or 14 and the plunger 29 is retracted.

Each of the terminals 13 and 14 in turn, is indexed by the turntable 11 into the assembly station 10 and is positioned beneath a mandrel 31. Deenergization of the solenoid 25 then advances guide 26 to lock the terminal 13 or 14 directly below the mandrel 31.

The mandrel 31 is the mandrel of a conventional vibratory article feeding device. In the instant case, the feeding device (not shown) is utilized to feed washers 3232 onto the mandrel 31 and into position in the assembly station 10. The washers 3232 are gravity fed from the mandrel 31 at the assembly station onto the terminals 1313 and 1414 as will be more fully explained infra. Thus, the details of the article feeding device is immaterial to the invention as any desired arrangement can be used to provide the mandrel 31 with washers 3232. For example, the washers 3232 could even be placed on the mandrel by hand.

For purposes of illustrating the principles of the invention, the station assembly has been arbitrarily shown for placing two washers 32-32 on the center terminals 13-13 of the workpieces 12 and three washers 3232 on the end terminals 14-14. As will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the description which follows, any desired number of washers 3232 can be selectively placed on any of the terminals 13-13 or 1414 without changing the basic principles of the invention.

The washers 32-32 are supported on the mandrel 31 by a slide 33 as is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The slide 33 is provided with two circular apertures 3434 having a diameter slightly greater than that of the washers 32 32. By displacing the slide 33 so as to position either of the apertures 3434 under the washers 3232, the washers 3232 will fall from the mandrel 31 onto the terminal 13 or 14 positioned directly below the mandrel. A slot 35 which connects the apertures 3434 permits the mandrel 31 to extend through the slide 33 and permits displacement of the slide 33 relative to the mandrel 31 to position either of the apertures 3434 beneath the mandrel.

Two opposed blades 36 and 37 are carried by the slide 33. The blade 36 is spaced above the slide 33 by spacer block 38 (FIG. 2) a distance equal to two washers. As seen in FIG. 2, when the slide 33 is displaced to the left to position the right aperture 34 beneath the mandrel 31, the blade 36 is inserted between the second and third washers 32-32 on the mandrel and permits only the first two washer-s to fall through the associated aperture 34 onto the terminal 13. The remaining washers 3232 rest on the blade 36 and are, therefore, prohibited from falling off the mandrel 31.

The blade 37 is spaced above the slide 33 by spacer block 39 a distance equal to three of the washers 3232. When the slide 33 is displaced to the right, the blade 37 is inserted between the third and fourth washers 3232 on the mandrel 31 so as to permit only three of the washers to fall from the mandrel onto the terminal 14. By adjusting the spacing of the blades 36 and 37 and by controlling the direction in which the slide 33 is displaced, any desired number of washers 3232 can be placed on any particular terminal 13 or 14.

By mounting the blades 36 and 37, for example, on wedges and by adjusting the wedges, it would be possible to adjust the spacing of the blades as desired. Of course, the same result can be obtained by changing the spacer blocks as desired.

Solenoids 40 and 41 are provided for controlling the direction in which the slide 33 is displaced and, therefore, the number of the washers 3232 placed upon a given one of the terminals 13 or 14. Plungers 42 and 43, respectively, of the solenoids 40 and 41 are opposed and spring biased towards each other by springs 4444. The plungers 42 and 43 extend into slots 4545 in the slide 33. The springs 4444 are adjusted so that when the solenoids 40 and 41 are both deenergized the slide 33 is in the neutral or normal position as shown in FIG. 3. By energizing solenoid 40, the plunger 42 is extended to displace the slide 33 to the left; and by alternately energizing solenoid 41, the plunger 43 is extended to displace the slide 33 to the right.

As seen in FIG. 3, the apertures 3434 are connected by the slot 35. The slot 35 is wide enough for the mandrel 31 to extend therethrough, but is narrow enough to retain the washers 3232 on the mandrel. Upon displacement of the slide 33 to position one of the apertures 3434 beneath the mandrel 31, the washers 3232 are free to drop through the aperture 34 onto the terminal or stud 13 or 14 as described supra.

Particular attention is now directed to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A switch determines which of the solenoids 40 and 41 are actuated. When the switch 50 is in its neutral or undepressed position (FIGS. 4 and 6), the solenoid 40 is actuated, as seen in FIG. 6, to displace the slide 33 to the left and deposit two of the washers 3232 on the center terminal 13. When the switch 50 is actuated or depressed (FIG. 5), the solenoid 41 is actuated, as seen in FIG. 6, to displace the slide 33 to the night and deposit three of the washers 3232 on one of the end terminals The switch 50 is actuated by a pivot arm designated generally by the numeral 51. The pivot arm 51 is pivoted at pivot point 52 and is spring biased in a conventional manner towards workpiece 12. An end of pivot arm 51 which comes in contact with the workpiece 12 is provided with a roller 53 which rolls across the workpiece 12 as the turntable 11 is indexed. The opposite end of the pivot arm 51 is provided with an extension 54 which contacts the switch 50 to actuate the switch when the pivot arm 51 is pivoted about pivot point 52.

The workpieces 1212 are provided with protruding portions 55-55 generally opposite the end terminals 14 14 of the workpiece 12 and with a recessed portion 56 generally opposite the center terminal 13. As the tumtable 11 is indexed, the roller 53 rolls across the workpiece 12. If one of the end terminals 1414 is positioned in the assembly station, the roller 53 stops on the associated protrusion 55,'thus, depressing the switch 50 (FIG. 5), and actuating the solenoid 41 to deposit three washers 32-32 on the terminal 14. On the other hand, if the center terminal 13 is positioned in the assembly station, the roller 53 stops in the recession 56 and permits the switch 50 to return to its natural position (FIG. 4) and, thus, actuate the solenoid 40 to deposit two of the washers 3232 on the center terminal 13. The pivot arm 51 is advantageously provided with a stop (not shown) to limit its travel when one of the center terminals 1313 is in the assembly station 10, FIG. 4. The center terminals 13-13 in etfect comprise :a set of studs or terminals which receives two washers each and the end terminals comprise a slit of studs or terminals which receives three washers eac The assembly station 10 is also provided with a twopiece guide 57 (FIGS. 4 and 5) for guiding the terminals 13-13 and 14-14 of the workpieces 12-12 into the assembly station. The guide 57 is provided with a re- 7 cessed portion 58 upon which the washers fall when released from the mandrel 31 (FIGS. 4 and 5). As the terminal 13 or 14 moves out of the assembly station 10 in response to the turntable being indexed, the guide 57 guides the terminal from the assembly station; and as the terminal leaves the station, the washers 3232 drop from the recessed portion 58 of the guide to the bottom of the terminal.

A pivot arm 59 is spring biased in a conventional manner to pivot about pivot point 60 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 4) towards the terminal 13 or 14. Thus, the arm 59 extends across the slot between the members of guide 57 when one of the terminals 13 or 14 is not in the slot of the guide. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the pivot arm 59 contacts a roller 61 of a pivot arm, designated generally by the numeral 62. The pivot arm 62 is spring biased in a conventional manner to pivot clockwise (FIG. 2) about pivot point 63. A tip 64 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the pivot arm 62 contacts a switch 65.

When the terminal 13 or 14 enters the slot between the members of guide 57, the pivot arm 59 is pivoted clockwise (FIG. 4) against the urgings of its spring and pivots pivot arm 62 counterclockwise (FIG. 2) against the urgings of its spring to actuate and close switch 65.

Therefore, in the absence of one of the terminals 13 or 14, where, for example, when one of the terminals is bent or broken off or one of the workpieces 1212 is missing, the switch 65 is not actuated and is left open.

As seen in FIG. 6, the switch 65 actuates a time delay relay 66 which after a predetermined interval closes a switch 67 to provide current to either the solenoid 40 or 41 depending on the position of the switch 50. The time delay relay 66 is used so as to provide time for the solenoid 25 to be actuated to advance the guide 26 to lock the terminal 13 or 14 into position in the assembly station 10. The switch 50 in its normal position directs current to the solenoid 40 so as to displace the slide 33 to the left (FIG. 2) and the switch 50 in its actuated position directs current to the solenoid 41 so as to displace the slide 33 to the right (FIG. 2).

The solenoid 25 can be actuated in any conventional manner to extend the associated plunger 29 and retract guide 26. For example, the piston (not shown) which indexes the turntable 11 can be utilized to actuate a switch (not shown) to energize the solenoid 25 as the piston advances to index the turntable. Upon the return stroke of the piston, the associated switch could be opened to deenergize the solenoid 25 so that the spring 27 would advance the guide 26 to lock the terminal in the assembly station 10. In this manner the guide 26 would be retracted to permit indexing of the turntable 11 and advanced to lock the terminal 13 or 14 into position prior to slide 33 being actuated to insert washers 32--32 on the terminal 13 or 14.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arwrangements may readily be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing predetermined numbers of substantially flat articles, comprising:

means for vertically stacking a plurality of substantially flat articles,

a slide mounted for displacement selectively in a plurality of directions below the vertical stack of the articles in the stacking means, said slide having a neutral nondispensing position in which position said slide retains the articles on the vertical stacking means, plurality of elements associated with the slide and spaced different predetermined distances above the bottom of the stack of articles supported by the slide, and

means for displacing the slide selectively in any of a plurality of different directions from the neutral nondispensing position to insert selectively any of the elements above different predetermined numbers of articles in the stack of articles so as to support the articles above the element in the vertical stacking means while permitting selectively predetermined numbers of articles below the element to fall from the vertical stacking means.

2. A device for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of washers, comprising:

means for vertically stacking a plurality of washers,

an apertured slide mounted for displacement below the vertical stack of washers for supporting the washers in the stacking means, said slide having a plurality of apertured portions through which predetermined numbers of washers are selectively permitted to fall and being positioned normally in a neutral nondispensing position in which position the apertured portions of the slide through which the washers are selectively permitted to fall are out of alignment with the vertical stack of Washers,

an element associated with each of the apertured portions of the slide, each element being spaced a predetermined distance above the bottom of the stack of washers supported by the slide, and

means for displacing the slide to selectively bring a preselected apertured portion of the slide into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the preselected apertured portion above a predetermined number of Washers, the associated element supporting the washers above the element while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the preselected apertured portion of the slide.

3. Apparatus for selectively placing diiferent numbers of washers on diiferent studs of a workpiece in response to the positioning of the studs in the workpiece in a predetermined position, comprising:

a slide mounted for displacement in a generally horizontal plane and having two relatively large apertured portions spaced one from the other and interconnected by a slotted portion,

a blade associated with each of the apertured portions, each blade being spaced a predetermined distance above a surface of the slotted portion of the slide, mandrel for supporting a plurality of washers in a generally vertical stack, said mandrel extending through the slotted portion in the slide with the slotted portion normally retaining the washers on the mandrel,

means for indexing each stud of the workpiece in turn into alignment with the mandrel, and

means responsive to the positioning of a predetermined one of the studs in the workpiece under the mandrel for displacing the slide to remove the slotted portion of the slide from beneath the mandrel and to bring a predetermined one of said apertured por tions into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the associated blade of the aligned apertured por tion into the stack of washers above a predetermined number of washers previously supported by the slotted portion of the slide, the blade associated with each of the apertured portions being inserted above a different number of washers supported by the slotted portion of the slide, the blade retaining the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall through the associated apertured portion onto the aligned stud so that the number of washers placed on the particular aligned stud depends on which of said apertured portions is displaced into alignment with the mandrel in response to the positioning of the particular stud in the workpiece below the mandrel.

4. A device for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of washers, comprising:

means for vertically stacking, a plurality of washers,

a slide mounted for displacement below the vertical stack of washers in the stacking means and having a first apertured portion and a second apertured portion, said slide having a neutral nondispensing position in which position the washers are supported by the slide and the apertured portions thereof are out of alignment with the vertical stack of washers,

an element associated with each of the apertured portions, each element being spaced a predetermined distance above the portion of the slide supporting the washers,

means for displacing the slide to bring the first apertured portion thereof into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the first apertured portion above a predetermined number of washers supported by the slide, the element associated with the first apertured portion of the slide supporting the washers above the element while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the first apertured portion, and

means for displacing the slide in an opposite direction to bring the second apertured portion into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the second apertured portion above a different predetermined number of washers supported by the slide, the element asso ciated with the second apertured portion of the slide supporting the washers above the element while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the second apertured portion of the slide.

5. A device for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of washers, comprising:

a mandrel having a generally vertical portion for supporting a stack of washers,

a slide mounted for displacement below the mandrel and having first and second apertures interconnected by a slotted portion,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral nondispensing position with the mandrel extending through the slotted portion with the slotted portion retaining the washers on the mandrel,

a blade associated with each of the apertures, each blade being spaced a predetermined distance above the portion of the slide supporting the washers on the mandrel,

means for displacing the slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the blade associated with the first aperture above a predetermined number of washers supported by the slide, the blade associated with the first aperture supporting the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the first aperture, and

means for displacing the slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the blade associated with the second aperture above a predetermined number of washers on the mandrel, the blade associated with the second aperture supporting the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the second aperture.

numbers of washers, comprising:

a mandrel having a generally vertical portion for supporting a stack of washers,

a slide mounted for displacement below the vertical stack of washers and having first and second apertures interconnected by a slotted portion,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral position with the mandrel extending through the slotted portion with the slotted portion retaining the washers on the mandrel,

a first blade mounted on the slide adjacent to the first aperture and spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of the slide,

a second blade mounted on the slide adjacent the second aperture and spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of the slide, said blades being mounted on the slide so as to oppose each other,

means for displacing the slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the first blade above a predetermined number of washers on the mandrel, the first blade supporting the washers above the first blade on the mandrel while permitting the Washers below the first blade to fall from the mandrel through the first aperture, and

means for displacing the slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the second blade above a different predetermined number of washers on the mandrel, the second blade retaining the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the second aperture.

7. A device for selectively placing predetermined numbers of washers on studs, comprising:

means for supporting a plurality of washers in a generally vertical stack,

means for indexing a plurality of studs in turn into alignment with the vertical stack of washers,

a slide mounted for displacement below the stack of washers and having first and second apertures, said slide having a neutral, nondispensing position in which position the apertures of the slide are out of alignment with the vertical stack of washers and the stack of washers is supported by the slide,

an element associated with each of the apertures, each element being spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of the slide supporting the stack of washers,

means for displacing the slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the first aperture above a predetermined number of the washers supported by the slide, the element associated with the first aperture supporting the washers above theelement while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the first aperture onto the aligned stud, and

means for displacing the slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the second aperture above a difierent predetermined number of the washers supported by the slide, the element associated with the second aperture supporting the washers above the element while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the second aperture onto the aligned stud.

8. A device for selectively placing predetermined numbers of washers on studs, comprising:

a mandrel having a generally vertical portion for supporting a stack of washers,

means for indexing a plurality of studs in turn into alignment with the mandrel,

a slide mounted for displacement below the mandrel and having first and second apertures interconnected by a slotted portion,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral nondispensing position with the mandrel extending through the slotted portion with the slotted portion retaining the washers on .the mandrel,

a blade associated with each of the apertures, each blade being spaced a diiferent predetermined distance above the slotted portion of the slide supporting the washers,

means for displacing the slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the blade associated with the first aperture above a predetermined number of the washers supported by the slotted portion of the slide, the blade associated with the second aperture retaining the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the first aperture and onto the aligned stud, and

means for displacing the slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the blade associated with the second aperture above a predetermined number of the washers supported by the slotted portion of the slide, the blade associated with the second aperture retaining the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the second aperture onto the aligned stud.

9. A device for selectively placing predetermined numbers of washers on studs, comprising:

a mandrel having a generally vertical portion for supporting a stack of washers,

means for indexing a plurality of studs in turn into alignment with the mandrel,

a slide mounted for displacement and having first and second apertures interconnected by a slotted portion,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral nondispensing position with the mandrel extending through the slotted portion with the slotted portion retaining the washers on the mandrel,

a first blade mounted on the slide adjacent to the first aperture and spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of the slide,

a second blade mounted on the slide adjacent to the second aperture and spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of the slide, said first and second blades being mounted on said slide so as to oppose each other,

means for displacing said slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the first blade above a predetermined number of the washers supported by the slide, the first blade retaining the washers above the first blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the first blade to fall from the mandrel through the first aperture onto the aligned stud, and

means for displacing said slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the second blade above a different predetermined number of the washers supported by the slide, the second blade retaining the washers above the second blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the second blade to fall from the mandrel through the second aperture onto the aligned stud.

10. Apparatus for placing washers on studs of Workpieces, wherein a first set of studs is associated with protruding portions of the workpieces and a second set of studs is associated with recessed portions of the workpieces, said apparatus comprising:

means for retaining a plurality of washers in a generally vertical stack,

means for indexing the workpieces to bring each stud in turn into alignment with the vertical stack of washers,

a slide mounted for displacement and having first and second apertures therein,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral nondispensing position in which position the apertures of the slide are out of alignment with the vertical stack of washers and the stack of washers is supported by the slide,

an element associated with each of the apertures, each element being spaced a predetermined distance above the portion of the slide supporting the stack of washers,

means responsive to the protruding portions of the workpieces when a stud of the first set of studs is brought into alignment with the vertical stack of washers for displacing the slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the first aperture above a predetermined number of the washers supported by the slide, the element associated with the first aperture supporting the washers above the element while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the first aperture onto the aligned stud, and

means responsive to the recessed portions of the workpieces when a stud of the second set of studs is brought into alignment with the vertical stack of washers, for displacing the slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the vertical stack of washers and to insert the element associated with the second aperture above a different predetermined 19 number of the washers supported by the slide, the element associated with the second aperture supporting the washers above the element while permitting the washers below the element to fall through the second aperture onto the aligned stud.

11. Apparatus for placing washers on studs of workpieces, wherein a first set of studs is associated with protruding portions of the workpieces and a second set of studs is associated with recessed portions of the workpieces, said apparatus comprising:

a mandrel having a generally vertical section for supporting a stack of washers in the apparatus,

means for indexing the workpieces to bring each stud in turn into alignment with the mandrel,

a slide mounted for displacement having first and second apertures interconnected by a slotted portion,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral nondispensing position with the mandrel extending through the slotted portion and with the slotted portion retaining the washers on the mandrel,

a blade associated with each of the apertures, each blade being spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of the slide,

means responsive to the protruding portions of the workpieces when a stud of the first set of studs is brought into alignment with the mandrel for displacing the slide to bring the first aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the blade associated with the first aperture above a predetermined number of the washers supported by the slotted portion of the slide, the blade associated with the first aperture retaining the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the first aperture onto the aligned stud, and

means responsive to the recessed portions of the workpieces when a stud of the second set of studs is brought into alignment with the mandrel for displacing the slide to bring the second aperture into alignment with the mandrel and to insert the blade associated with the second aperture above a different predetermined number of the washers supported by the slide, the blade associated with the second aperture retaining the washers above the blade on the mandrel while permitting the washers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through the second aperture onto the aligned stud.

12. Apparatus for placing washers on studs of workpieces, wherein each stud of a first set of studs is adjacent to a protruding portion of the associated workpiece and each stud of a second set of studs is adjacent to a recessed portion of the associated workpiece, said apparatus comprising:

a mandrel having a generally vertical portion for supporting a stack of washers in the apparatus,

means for indexing the workpieces to bring each stud in turn into alignment with the mandrel,

a slide mounted for displacement having first and second apertures interconnected by a slotted portion,

means for retaining the slide in a neutral nondispensing position with the mandrel extending through the slotted portion and with the slotted portion retaining the washers on the mandrel,

a first blade mounted on said slide adjacent to said first aperture and spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of said slide,

a second blade mounted on said slide adjacent to said second aperture and spaced a predetermined distance above the slotted portion of said slide, said first and second blades being mounted on said slide so as to oppose each other,

a pivotally mounted arm spring biased towards said workpiece, the arm having a first position associated with a protruding portion of a workpiece being positioned adjacent thereto when a stud of the first set 1 1 1 2 of studs is brought into alignment with the mandrel ers below the blade to fall from the mandrel through and a second position associated with a recessed porthe second aperture onto the aligned stud. tion of a workpiece being positioned adjacent thereto when a stud of the second set of studs is brought References Cited by the Examine! into alignment with the mandrel, 5 UN S A PATENTS means res onsive to the first osition of the ivotally mounted arm for displacing i he slide to bring the first gorman able 22193 X aperture mto alignment w1th the mandrel and to msert the first blade above a predetermined number of References Cited y the Applicant the washers supported by the slide, said first blade 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS retaining the washers above the first blade on the 1231 858 7/1917 DanieL mandrel while permitting the washers below the first 2:567:089 9 /19 51 Walsh blade to fall from the mandrel through the first aper- 2,610,721 9/1952 pruyn' ture onto the aligned stud, and r 2,683,554 7/1954 Mulhauser. means responsive to the second position of the pivotally 15 2,787,303 4/1957 C d t 1,

mounted arm for displacing the slide to bring the 2,908,066 10/ 1959 Featherstone et 9.1. second aperture into alignment with the mandrel and 2,920,792 1/ 1960 Lancaster. to insert the second blade above a different predeter- 3,099,359 7/ 1963 Taylor.

mined number-of the Washers supported by the slide, the second blade retaining the washers above the sec- ROBERT E r 1mm) Examme ond blade on the mandrel while permitting the wash- "KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARTICLES, COMPRISING MEANS FOR VERTICALLY STACKING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARTICLES, A SLIDE MOUNTED FOR DISPLACEMENT SELECTIVELY IN A PLURALITY OF DIRECTIONS BELOW THE VERTICAL STACK OF THE ARTICLES IN THE STACKING MEANS, SAID SLIDE HAVING A NEUTRAL NONDISPENSING POSITION IN WHICH POSITION SAID SLIDE RETAINS THE ARTICLES ON THE VERTICAL STACKING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SLIDE AND SPACED DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED DISTANCES ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE STACK OF ARTICLES SUPPORTED BY THE SLIDE, AND MEANS FOR DISPLACING THE SLIDE SELECTIVELY IN ANY OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS FROM THE NEUTRAL NONDISPENSING POSITION TO INSERT SELECTIVELY ANY OF THE ELEMENTS ABOVE DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF ARTICLES IN THE STACK OF ARTICLES SO AS TO SUPPORT THE ARTICLES ABOVE THE ELEMENT IN THE VERTICAL STACKING MEANS WHILE PERMITTING SELECTIVELY PREDETERMINED NUMBERS OF ARTICLES BELOW THE ELEMENT TO FALL FROM THE VERTICAL STACKING MEANS. 